Monday, March 26, 2012

Ten Detroit baseball players are on the hospital list and the games with Hattiesburg, Miss., and Jackson, Miss., scheduled for today, will probably be declared off as a result of the wreck of the Tigers’ special coaches just outside of Vicksburg late last night. The following is a list of the injured players: Hughie Jennings, head cut…Davy Jones, hit in stomach by flying board…Henry Perry and Jean Dubuc, hit by flying water tank.
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The accident occurred when the brakeman forgot to couple the Tigers’ special coaches to the remainder of the train after it had crossed the Mississippi.

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37 MLB players have been born on March 26, and not a single one of them has ever made an appearance at catcher. I imported a five-time NPB All Star who wasn't a particularly great hitter, but was actually a catcher. If you don't do that, you've gotta hope someone like Jason Dubois or Josh Wilson can catch.

Who is likely to make the opening day roster of your favorite team that other baseball fans will respond with, "who?"

The Royals have Luis Mendoza. He's a career AAAA pitcher. He was named PCL pitcher of the year last year. Supposedly he's made some sort of adjustment that has made him good, even though he still doesn't strike anyone out. He seems like a good bet to make the team and could very well be in the rotation.

Tommy Hottovy pitched a few innings for the Red Sox last year. He's a KC native and could have a decent shot at making it as a second lefty.

Kelvin Herrera is a decent relief prospect, but is probably under the radar for most fans other than prospect hounds or Royals fans.

The Cubs have Joe Mather with a spring training OPS of 1.286. He is a cinch to get his first MVP Award this year. The Cubs have never had a player with a great spring training who did not go on to have a great career.

Russ Canzler has a shot to make the Indians as a 4C guy. Hit .314/.401/.530 last year for Durham, was named the IL MVP.

He's probably not much of a prospect - he'll be 26 this year, Durham's a hitter's park, and he's never had that kind of monster season before. Plugging last year's IL MVP season into an MLE calculator, you come up with a 4C guy who hits .272/.343/.445 with 14 home runs in a career season. Entirely cromulent (Casey Blake-esque) if he plays that well again, but if last year was a spike and not a sustainable improvement, he's not someone you really want on a major league ballclub.

With the injuries to Sizemore and Brantley, and Cunningham/Pie/Spilborghs all playing like poop this spring, Canzler has a shot. After all, someone has to play left field.

The Mets have a cadre of fourth and fifth outfielders in camp, one or two of whom will make the team. Adam Loewen may be known to folks, but that's probably as a pitcher; he's an outfielder now. Mike Baxter was not much of a prospect with San Diego (he was on the 40-man for a minute, though). I think he's on the Mets because he's from New York. Vinny Rottino was a Brewers catcher a long time ago and caught for Italy in the WBC.

Mike Nickeas has been around for ever. He's not very good, but they don't have the money for a better backup catcher.

For the Twins, Michael Hollimon or Pedro Florimon also have a small chance of catching on as a second utility guy. Half of the Twins bullpen is going to be a mystery to most baseball fans, even though they've been around the majors and prospect lists somewhat. Anthony Swarzak, Jeff Manship, Kyle Waldrop, and Matt Maloney are likely to make the team there. Backup infielder Luke Hughes is around the same level of anonymity. Bigger surprises for the Twins could be "Trevor Plouffe is the starting right fielder?" or "Sean Burroughs didn't retire 5 years ago?"

If the Phils carry a second LH RP, it will be either:
Jake Diekman, 25, who in 65 IP in AA last year, struck out 83 and walked 44. (Another Wild Thing?)
Joe Savery, 26, former 1st round draft pick, who at the beginning of 2011 was a failed pitching prospect who tried 1B/DH in A, was bumped to AA and took a turn or two out of the bullpen when the staff was tired and found a few extra MPH on his fastball. Went 9 innings in AA with 14/0 K/BB and 25/26/6 in AAA.